document...

i love to document things so i can go back when i'm older and wiser, and gaze upon the years of my youth. that's right, gaze. seriously though, having this blog and keeping up with it has turned out to be one of the best ideas i've ever really had. i've been able to look back on my sucky years, when i was completely ridiculous and see how mature i've become and how much certain events in my life have shaped who i am today, someone i am proud to be. so, to keep up with this good habit of documenting my life so accurately on the internet, i decided to compile my favorite pictures from certain events this past year from the end of 2008 to the beginning of 2010. i hope you enjoy this narcissistic view on my past year of life, but to be completely honest, 2009 was a hell of a year for me. i've never grown so much as a person yet still been able to have fun every single day. it's been a blessing, and if i seem overly grateful, take a trip back to my archives...actually, don't, because that is embarrassing.


new years eve, 2008. bringing in the new year with the garth's was the best choice the johnson family has ever made, in my opinion. spending that night with our "bff family" set the tone for the year i like to refer to as "my year of FRIENDS".


i met joshua radin one time. i would much rather not reiterate what actually happened when i met him, because i am still scarred from that five minute period of time. it was an awesome night though. chelsea riley, i love you.


i included these pictures in here, because when you've lived your entire life without a solid group of friends, who love you from the bottom of their hearts, you just have to be grateful for that. this was when i started to hang out with jen and ali, my soon to be best friends, and the two people who keep me laughing every day. i love them so much and will forever be thankful that we met in speaker's class.



oh, kate burruss. this girl has stood beside me since junior year of high school and has been my rock through every retarded thing i've encountered. of all my friends, we are polar opposites, but when it comes down to it, she knows me better than anyone else in this world and supports me no matter what i do. noelle kelley, wherever the heck you are nowadays, thank you for introducing this amazing friend to me. thank...you!


oooh, steeplechase. i've been going to this stupid horse race since i was too young to hold my giant head up. i always hesitate before agreeing to go because it usually involves awkward encounters with high school classmates, whom, for the most part never really spoke to me. it's nice to be fancy though. i'm wearing one of those hats this year!


this was at the dave barnes show in spartanburg. the nappy roots opened. it rained the entire time. my best friends were there though, so, uh...who cares about how strange/gross it was that night. when i'm old and deteriorating, my children will hear about this night.


ivy leaves was basically my child of last year. that thing brought about so much stress and frustration, yet the end product turned out wonderful. learning how to compile an art and literary journal grew me up as a designer in so many ways...and the process is about to begin yet again!


my trip to madison, wisconsin was one of my most enjoyable parts of this year. katie garth knows how to be a great host and that trip was delightful! i've decided to visit every summer i can...not the winter, because i would lose my arms from the extreme cold...but yes, every summer!


freedom weekend aloft in simpsonville. everyone was bored because they didn't know much about sister hazel or gavin degraw, but heck, my sister and i had quite the time!


fourth of july. i just like this picture because it's festive!


oh...i went to camp. i grew up a lot, despite my hate for the camp environment. i made a few really great friends. cate goodman will forever live in my mind as the cutest, best camper ever.



my mother is the smartest, godliest woman i know. she raised me to have a big heart and love with it as much as i can. she listens to my complaining and yells at me when i start to think catastrophically. she loves wine and that woman had become quite the comic. i love her. she's most likely the reason i am still sane today. i ain't kiddin'.


fall semester 2009 was full of fun times. too many to count, really. one of which was spaghetti night.


another memorable fall '09 time, was the avett brothers show in augusta, georgia. quite the time, if i do say so myself. kate mase, you are a great lady.


channel four news team. most epic team of all time. i love those guys.


we carved pumpkins. they rotted on our front porch. jen, ali, and i gagged the entire time it took to carry those nasty pumpkins to our trash can a month after halloween. oh, good times.


the masquerade ball rocked. it...rocked. my big toe got smashed by a girl's heel, yet i've never had so much fun at a dance in my life. heck...that was magical.


bonfire. dance party. friends. dang, i love my life now.


hannah smith got engaged. i've known that fool since freshman year of college and she finally met a guy who can put up with her ridiculous ways. congratulations hannah and craig...i am still a teen bitter about having to buy my bridesmaids dress. i had no idea that's how that crap worked.


i was a baby for halloween. jennifer was a mexi. if i'm ever having a bad day, i think about that sombrero/mustache combination and die laughing.


six flags. so great, minus the sickliness that occurred after riding the ninja.


80's skate night. if you want a fun time, that night never fails.


good ol' parking garage. new hangout spot. great for fixie riding too. mmhmm.


thanksgiving. my cousins are awesome. this picture...more awesome.


23rd birthday party. despite the fact that everyone i invited couldn't make it, this group of people made for the best birthday i've had in a while...oh, did i mention that before this i had the flu and after i had a sinus infection. this night was sandwiched in between two horrific sicknesses. if it hadn't been, i literally would have died. these guys are wonderful.


christmas. michael and laura are the best siblings i could ever ask for. sure, they do their share of annoying the crap out of me. michael just got surround sound installed in his room which is adjacent to mine. not good. laura won't give me her old camera, which she will most likely never use again. yes. they get on my nerves, but without growing up with them in my life, i wouldn't know how to care for others and love without expecting anything in return. they taught me how to give and how to love. so, yeah, sorry if your siblings aren't as great, but the best ones are taken. oops.


this is my redneck side of the family. don't be fooled by the gang signs...these people are country folk. southern to the bone.


to end this massive post, which most of my readers probably skipped right on through, i just want to reiterate how thankful i am for all of the people in my life. i've never felt so blessed than i do at the end of 2009. it was an amazing year, full of memories i will never forget.